Why I’m not switching to the Verizon iPhone: Need for speed

The image above says it all. It shows a screen capture of an actual speed test performed on an Apple iPhone 4 while connected to AT&T’s 3G network in northern New Jersey. It is not an anomaly. In fact it’s pretty standard in my home town and in the surrounding areas. Sometimes my download speed is faster and sometimes it’s slower, but it generally stays between 3.5 and 5Mbps¹. I can’t give that up.

Verizon Wireless has an incredibly strong network. It works everywhere, seemingly without fail, and hopefully the carrier can maintain its reputation as a rock solid network even after it is infested with data-gulping iPhones. What the Verizon Wireless network is not, however, is fast. In my town, which is roughly 15 minutes northwest of the George Washington Bridge, Verizon’s average download speed sits around 800Kbps¹. The fastest I’ve seen it in this area is just over 1Mbps. I use Verizon devices all the time as part of my job, and I often carry them with me outside my job. When I want to do something that involves downloading large files or streaming video content, I use an AT&T phone.

But what about reliability? AT&T is horrible! Wrong. AT&T might be horrible for you, but it works just fine for me. Not always, of course, but often enough that I have no interest in switching my main personal account to another provider and sacrificing data speed in the process. In late 2009 and early 2010, it was a very different story. I could rarely make phone calls in the area around my office in New York City and had Verizon scored the iPhone back then, I would have switched in a second. But beginning last summer, however, AT&T’s service in midtown Manhattan improved dramatically.

The other big part my decision comes down to the core reason any “my network is better than your network” argument is patently ridiculous. A network’s coverage, performance and reliability vary greatly depending on region — without exception. Notice the full five bars my iPhone 4 was reporting when the screen shot above was captured. Along with every other AT&T phone I have lying around, my iPhone just about always displays five bars of coverage near my home, office and nearly everywhere else I go in the area. Even when I give it the death grip.

In 2012 when AT&T and Verizon Wireless each have LTE networks that offer widespread coverage and speedy data connections, I’ll reassess the situation. I expect a 4G LTE iPhone to launch for both networks in 2012, so pricing and coverage will become the two main factors I consider. Today, however, switching from AT&T to Verizon would be like switching from broadband to dial-up — and I just can’t handle that.

¹Figures represent estimated average download speeds observed on AT&T and Verizon Wireless’ 3G data networks. The figures are based on independent speed tests performed using various devices with various speed test applications and are in no way scientific.

I paid the $140 ETF to move from a Moto Droid on Verizon to an iPhone 4 on AT&T. Trying to make a call from my house with Verizon was touch and go, at best, but AT&T has been rock solid. Additionally, they’ve been adding new towers left and right.

When I made the switch in August, I had no 3G at my house. Wasn’t a big deal since I have wifi. But I now get 3G everywhere in the area, even the backwoods.

AT&T has been great, I don’t see why everyone has a problem with it. I think Verizon’s incredibly overrated. But I have friends who swear by them, and I’m glad they will get the choice of switching to the iPhone. Also, I’m hoping competition will urge AT&T to drop the data caps.

http://twitter.com/YinYangGemini Thy Ngy

same here in Mass. I have great coverage. customer service has been great to me. verizon drops calls too everybody. I used to work at verizon and everyday there would be at least 10 people bringing their phones into the techs saying they can’t get reception at their home or they keep dropping calls. that’s why verizon also sells the network extender for your home. and you still can’t simultaneously call and use the internet on verizon’s CDMA.

Anonymous

Here in S.Florida Att has been excellent in 3g speeds and reception.
I just did a speed test with 3 bars in my old thick wall house..288 ping, 392.9kbs DL and 148.4kbs UL.

Mok

Do you think that maybe the fact that AT&T is/was headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ might have something to do with the terrific speeds you have found in northern New Jersey? Do you think that the infrastructure at headquarters is duplicated throughout the rest of the country?

Bblack Dragon Slayerr17

The reason that I want an iphone on verizon is because I will get some sort of speed period. Where I am there is no ATT service thatt works well so I will stick with what works. I love my ipad and I want and iphone so that I cn have some synergy. Make sense?

http://sql-plsql.blogspot.com/ Sachin

i don’t even get this kind of speed on laptop in India…great…

iFan

“A network’s coverage, performance and reliability vary greatly depending on region — without exception.” This is a fact that I think people with poor coverage over look. I live in South Florida and have been working with or for a cellular carrier for over 20 years. I’ve not had a problem with AT&T Mobility service, I wish my download speeds were faster but over all I’m satisfied. Especially since I can keep a 550-minute a month plan since most of the people whom I talk to are on AT&T also, so my calls to them are free.

Bobsmith

just tested my vzw incredible in central indiana. 1432 down and 846 up. the only thing your speedy network will give you is better porn and more dropped calls. plus ATT is at least a year behind VZW on 4G buildout. and even when they catch up they don’t have the mega rich 700mhz spectrum. that means when you piddle on your phone porn inside a building that vzw network will kill your weak att signal.

dwinsmith

They both have 700 Mhz spectrum and your speed is pathetic.

http://twitter.com/YinYangGemini Thy Ngy

ooh pwned

Anonymous

but… can you make a phone call?

dwinsmith

I like having service at my house so I think I’ll stick with AT&T. I have a Verizon phone for work and it’s become clear that Verizon having better service is a myth in most places. The only thing they have is more widespread 3G, but I haven’t been anywhere without AT&T 3G in 4 months and there Verizon didn’t work within a mile.

http://davidlevine.posterous.com David Levine

I understand that’s the speed you get on a speed test, but do you experience that in real world situations such as accessing a website or using an app? I get a download speed of around 16 Mbps on my Time Warner Cable Internet connection, but I certainly don’t see that when downloading files because I’m limited by the website’s server.

Guest

WGAS

http://twitter.com/sethhart sethhart

cool story and “conclusion” based on your sample group of 1. really worth a blog post.

Anonymous

I’ll stick to AT&T too. I get about 3 Mbps speed normally. Quite good IMHO.

Also, expect AT&T LTE to be MUCH better than Verizon. I base that on the spectrum to be used by both companies. AT&T is going to use some of the old TV channel spectrum, much lower in frequency than Verizon’s choice. This will allow better penetration of buildings and landscape to give a much higher rate of reliability and much better speed results when LTE become available. AT&T rocks.

Sageant

I am waaaaaiting for the iphone on verizon. Then I am hoping all the whiners jump to verizon and we folk sticking to att will have a better network, better phone and hopefully, better deals.

Therealmonos

Nice to see someone post an article concerning the iPhone that seems to actually understand the technology, unlike the considerable bulk of those responding.

Nunya

Dude your definitely out of the loop.

Guest

who gives a sh*t about the bandwidth you get at 3:00 AM in Buttf*ck NJ ????

try running that in same test at Grand Central at 6:00 PM and then compare ATT and VZW …

Toobigtoohit

You sad little man. The speeds of the Network are not even close. Not only is Verizons 3 G 2 to 3 times faster then AT&T’s but the 4 G network is 10 to 15 times faster at it’s slower speed then at AT&T’s fasted speed. AT&T says it has 4 G coming but it is not the same technology then Verizon and its also way behind as well. I do not think it’s fair for people to post wrong information because people read it and think its fact. Comparing AT&T’s network to Verizon is just like saying I think the Hyundai is as good at the BMW. That’s a joke. The Hyundai is a good car but it cannot compare to the BMW.

http://twitter.com/YinYangGemini Thy Ngy

NOT! ATT and Verizon will both be using LTE. the author of this article is saying for HIM in HIS location ATT is good. same for me. ATT has good coverage in Mass. and Verizon still doesnt have any 4G phones out yet.

Harrygaskin

Please post a link to support your ridiculous position. Even Verizon ADMITS that AT&T is faster. Verizon claims it is “The most reliable network” and AT&T claims it is “The nation’s fastest mobile broadband network”. Google CDMA 3G speeds versus GSM 3G speeds and every single link will clearly prove and illustrate that GSM 3G is significantly faster. Don’t spout foolish, ignorant, and uninformed information because you have a personal bias and affinity for verizon. lol. Verizon may be the Hyundai partner. You cant use your phone overseas and you cant use simultaneous voice and data. The only advantage to having verizon is that it works better for voice if you live in the sticks or in the country. How about taking a number and waiting 30 minutes to 2 hours to get a problem solved?

http://twitter.com/YinYangGemini Thy Ngy

ooh you got pwned

http://twitter.com/YinYangGemini Thy Ngy

here in massachusetts ATT has pretty good coverage too so I’m not switching either. it’s just a matter of time before ATT gets LTE 4G which has a farther range from towers and can penetrate buildings. so no use switching over.

And you still can’t talk and surf the web at the same time on Verizon’s network because of the CDMA. I’ve had to do this a few times and it is very convenient

Itsjustmee

sure as hell dont get those speeds on att in seattle
sometimes (rarely) 2000 but usually 500
so much for hspa+ everywhere in 2010 eh?

Harrygaskin

A solid argument. Speed and simultaneous voice and data transmission are the reason why the AT&T iPhone is a better experience